What are some of the foundations of good educational research ? If research is not synonymous with professional reflection , we need to try to define what it is and what some of the basic features of good research might be . There is no single , accepted definition of research across all subjects ( more on that later ) , and even within education there are a large number of different approaches and traditions which understand research in different ways . Below we offer a definition merely as a starting point to aid discussion of what good research might include : The systematic investigation into , and study of , materials , sources , situ ations and people in order to explore and understand identified issues with the aim of reaching new insights .